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Part Promotion of Scientific Research

The results of materials science provides humankind with great benefits. One of the disciplines which forms an important basis of materials science is chemistry. Chemistry, which has been developed as a purely academic discipline with intellectual curiosity as its motivating force, has played an important role in improving our perception of natural and material phenomena at the atomic and molecular levels in modem science through studies on the structures and dynamics of a diversity of materials.

As organic chemistry, which is the chemistry of carbon compounds, becomes more systematized the number of new kinds of compounds are rapidly increasing. Recent methodological progress in the synthesis of organic compounds is remarkable, and complicated compounds with high selectivity are being synthesized. Especially, techniques for selectively producing photoactive compounds have greatly progressed and many of the physiologically active compounds are being synthesized as well. The contributions of Japanese researchers in this field are remarkable. Their activities are not only limited to basic research. There are processes which were first commercialized in the world by Japanese researchers. The high level of organic compound synthesization in Japan has been widely recognized.

Progress in the research of organometallic compounds, i.e., organic compounds containing metal-carbon bonds, is also remarkable. In accordance with progress in the research of properties of organometallic compounds, the understanding of the catalytic reaction mechanism has been promoted, and the basic theories for logically creating applicable reactions have gradually been established. Organometallic compounds are also used in manufacturing electronic materials, such as semiconductors. In the future, not only compounds with carbon skeletons but also those with skeletons of different elements will be increasingly produced.

In the boundary areas, which are akin to life sciences and are often referred to as either bio-organic chemistry or bio-inorganic chemistry, progress is being made in the synthesis of various compounds modeled on higher functions of living organisms. By the use of techniques for deciding the sequences of bases and amino acids which comprise nucleic acids and proteins, together with the use of computer graphic techniques, it has become possible to thoroughly examine the interactions between molecules which take place in the process of the molecular recognition of macromolecules such as protein, nucleic acids, and so forth. Those techniques will be utilized during the investigation of interaction in molecular or atomic levels.

In recent years, the chemistry of inorganic compounds has been recognized as one of the frontier areas. The chemistry of metallic oxides is now being reconsider-ed since the discovery of the fact that some metallic oxides show high temperature superconductivity. With the progress in the synthesis of compounds with columnar, layer, or other structural characteristics and with the clarification or the nature of these compounds, the possibility of novel application of metallic oxides as materials is growing.

While ceramic materials have high thermal stabilities, they are fragile and difficult to process. However, materials of high tenacity, glass materials with new functions, and fine particles of uniform diameters are being developed. Thus, technological innovation is proceeding in this field.

As for the field of metallic materials, research on those with thermodynamically non-equilibrating structure has become active, and with advent of amorphous metals, the development of alloys with extraordinary properties has been promoted. As a result, a new discipline of science is emerging here. The research advancement in this field has resulted in the development of highly heat-resistant alloys, hydrogen storage alloys, highly permeable materials, high-density photo-magnetic materials, and so on. The world's top-level achievements in this field have been attained in Japan.

In the field of organic materials, too, the development of materials with new functions is stressed. It has become possible to produce materials with high electric conductivity, comparable with metallic copper, from organic macromolecules normally known as electric insulators on the momentum of the discovery of conductive polyacetylene. Future development in this field is expected. The development of organic magnetic materials is also noteworthy. Research projects such as unimolecular films, bimolecular membranes, artificial cells, and synthesis of macromolecular complexes have made considerable progress to endow new functions to macromolecular materials. Steady progress has been made in applying these materials to artificial organs and other biomedical macromolecular materials. Furthermore, the production of various new organic-inorganic composite materials with excellent functions has become possible.

In order to examine the nature of materials and to analyze their chemical processes, the progress of measuring techniques as well as the development of new analytical techniques is indispensable for obtaining information on their components and compositions. Together with the development of measuring methods based on new ideas, revolutionary progress in analytical and measuring techniques aided by computers has been made in various fields. Especially, the progress in X-ray crystal structure analysis has greatly influenced the structural determination of organic and inorganic compounds. Also, developments in time-resolved measurement have made it possible to follow extremely fast reactions. In the research field of solid surfaces, introduction of various spectroscopic techniques, including X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, has brought about rapid progress. Especially, the emergence of the scanning tunneling microscope has had a great impact on the progress of surface research. Further, the progress of the computer has made it possible, together with the progress of measuring techniques, to perform complicated theoretical calculations within a very short time. Consequently theoretical calculations regarding molecular structures and reactivities have now become possible with considerable accuracy and speed. The progress of non-empirical molecular orbital calculation has made it possible to calculate reaction pathways and thus to predict the final state of reactions. Thus the prediction of feasibility concerning various reactions is becoming possible.

Chemical engineering, which is concerned with designing and engineering of chemical processes, has had a large effect on the rapid development of the petrochemical industry. Here again, the development of the computer has helped in designing and controlling efficient production processes. Now, it is felt that this field will extend its research activities into environmental chemistry and biotechnology. The greater part of environmental problems are caused by the use of fossil fuels. Chemical engineering can play a central role in providing the most effective method for the shifting of our energy source from fossil fuels which will eventually be depleted, to energy sources which are clean and free from environmental pollution. In many aspects of this field, notably in the utilization of solar energy, the development of highly efficient fuel cells, the use of atomic energy, the recycling of nuc1ear reactor fuel, etc., universities and their related research institutes are expected to make substantial contributions through their research activities.